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Lunch at Aux Artistes - A Funky Restaurant in the 15th Arrondissement

After taking care of a bit of business in the 15th arrondissement on Thursday, I realized that I had some time to spare before I needed to be at Place St. Gervais for a walking tour on the history of water porters in Paris. Intending to have lunch somewhere in the Marais, I headed towards the metro but was sidetracked by Aux Artistes, a funky looking restaurant with a lunch menu featuring French cuisine.

The red checkered table cloths and warm ambiance offered a welcome contrast to the chilly weather outside, as did the convivial behavior of the other diners who joked with the owner and asked if they should sit at their regular tables. The Euros 14 lunch menu includes an appetizer, a main course, and either cheese, dessert, or coffee, although there are some selections, such as the homemade molten chocolate cake, that come with a surcharge. In what may be an interesting way to circumvent any complaints about incorrect orders, each guest writes their selections on a slip of paper and hands it to the waiter. I made sure to write my three choices, couscous, lamb cutlets with french fries, and chocolate cake, as neatly as possible!

Aux Artistes is the kind of place that invites you to become a regular with your own table. I left with a sense of nostalgia because I don't usually have any reason to be in that part of the city, although I've subsequently come to the conclusion that the homemade french fries are reason enough to make the trip.

The front of the restaurant is plastered with stickers from the French guidebooks, Le Guide du Routard and Paris pas cher.